USPTO Patents Application 09913383

AppL No. 09/913,383

Amdt Dated June 7, 2004

Reply to Office action of January 13, 2004

This listing of claims will replace all prior versions, and listings, of claims in the
application:

Listing of Claims:

1 1. (currently amended) A video telephone comprising:

2 image pickup means which captures an image of a subject

3 and generates a pickup image signal;

4 pickup signal processing means which processes the pickup

5 signal and outputs a pickup image signal;

6 processing means including a microprocessor for executing

7 an image modification program for implementing one

8 or more image modification processing techniques

9 which subjects the pickup image signal to an image

10 modification processing to produce a modified image

11 signal for protecting a portrait right;

12 image signal selection means which selects one of the

13 pickup image signal from the pickup signal

14 processing means and the modified image signal; and

15 communication means which transmits an output image

16 signal from the image signal selection means.

1 2 . (previously presented) A video telephone according to

2 claim 1, wherein the image signal selection means selects and

3 outputs the modified image signal from the processing means

4 at a time of starting communication, and thereafter selects

5 and outputs the pickup image signal from the pickup signal

6 processing means in response to an operational instruction

7 from a calling party.

1 3 . (previously presented) A video telephone according to

2 claim 1, wherein the image signal selection means selects and

3 outputs the modified image signal from the processing means

4 at a time of starting communication, and thereafter selects

Amendments to the Claims

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Appl.No. 09/91 3,383
Amdt. Dated June 7, 2004
Reply to Office action of January 13, 2004

5 and outputs the pickup image signal from the pickup signal

6 processing means in response to confirmation of authentication

7 of a partner side of a calling party.

1 4. (previously presented) A video telephone according to

2 claim 1, wherein the processing means performs a defocusing

3 processing for placing an image based on the pickup image

4 signal in a defocused state.

1 5. (previously presented) A video telephone according to

2 claim 1, wherein the processing means performs a deforming

3 processing for converting two-dimensional positional

4 information of pixels in the pickup image signal at an

5 arbitrary ratio.

1 6. (previously presented) A video telephone according to

2 claim 1, wherein the processing means performs a resolution

3 reducing processing for reducing a resolution of the pickup

4 image signal.

1 7. (previously presented) A video telephone according to

2 claim 1, wherein the processing means performs a tone

3 resolution reducing processing for reducing a tone resolution

4 of the pickup image signal.

1 8. (currently amended) A video telephone comprising:

2 image pickup means which captures an image of a subject

3 and generates a pickup signal;

4 pickup signal processing means which processes the pickup

5 signal and outputs a pickup image signal;

6 image modification processing means for executing a

7 program which subjects the pickup image signal to an

8 image modification processing for protecting a

9 portrait right, said image modification including

Amendments to the Claims

Page 3 of 12

Appl. No. 09/913,383

Amdt Dated June 7, 2004

Reply to Office action of January 13, 2004

10 one or more of defocusing processing, deforming

11 processing, resolution reducing processing, tone

12 resolution reducing processing, diffusing image

13 processing, transverse blurring processing, and

14 contour extracting processing;

15 image signal selection means which selects one of the

16 pickup image signal from the pickup signal

17 processing means and a modified image signal from

18 the image modification processing means; and

19 communication means which transmits an output image

20 signal from the image signal selection means.

1 9. (previously presented) A video telephone according to

2 claim 8, wherein the image signal selection means selects and

3 outputs the modified image signal from the image modification

4 processing means at a time of starting communication, and

5 thereafter selects and outputs the pickup image signal from

6 the pickup signal processing means in response to an

7 operational instruction from a calling party.

1 10. (previously presented) A video telephone according to

2 claim 8, wherein the image signal selection means selects and

3 outputs the modified image signal from the image modification

4 processing means at a time of starting communication, and

5 thereafter selects and outputs the pickup image signal from

6 the pickup signal processing means in response to confirmation

7 of authentication of a partner side of a calling party.

1 11. (currently amended) A video telephone comprising:

2 image pickup means which captures an image of a subject

3 and generates a pickup signal;

4 pickup signal processing means which processes the pickup

5 signal and outputs a pickup image signal;

Amendments to the Claims

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Appl. No. 09/913,383 w
Amdt. Dated June 7, 2004
Reply to Office action of January 13, 2004

6 image modification processing means for executing a

7 program which subjects the pickup image signal to

8 defocusing processing for placing an image based on

9 the pickup image signal in a de focused state;

10 image signal selection means which selects one of the

11 pickup image signal from the pickup signal

12 processing means and a modified image signal from

13 the image modification processing means; and

14 communication means which transmits an output image

15 signal from the image signal selection means*

1 12. (previously presented) A video telephone according to

2 claim 11, wherein the image signal selection means selects and

3 outputs the modified image signal from the image modification

4 processing means at a time of starting communication, and

5 thereafter selects and outputs the pickup image signal from

6 the pickup signal processing means in response to an

7 operational instruction from a calling party.

1 13 . (previously presented) A video telephone according to

2 claim 11, wherein the image signal selection means selects and

3 outputs the modified image signal from the image modification

4 processing means at a time of starting communication, and

5 thereafter selects and outputs the pickup image signal from

6 the pickup signal processing means in response to confirmation

7 of authentication of a partner side of a calling party.

1 14. (currently amended) A video telephone comprising:

2 image pickup means which captures an image of a subject

3 and generates a pickup signal;

4 pickup signal processing means which processes the pickup

5 signal and outputs a pickup image signal;

6 image modification processing means for executing a

7 program which subjects the pickup image signal to

Amendments to the Claims

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Appl.No. 09/913,383
Amdt Dated June 7, 2004
Reply to Office action of January 13, 2004

8 deforming processing for converting two-dimensional

9 positional information of pixels in the pickup image

10 signal at an arbitrary ratio, ;

11 image signal selection means which selects one of the

12 pickup image signal from the pickup signal

13 processing means and a modified image signal from

14 the image modification processing means; and

15 communication means which transmits an output image

16 signal from the image signal selection means.

1 15 * (previously presented) A video telephone according to

2 claim 14, wherein the image signal selection means selects and

3 outputs the modified image signal from the image modification

4 processing means at a time of starting communication, and

5 thereafter selects and outputs the pickup image signal from

6 the pickup signal processing means in response to an

7 operational instruction from a calling party.

1 16. (previously presented) A video telephone according to

2 claim 14, wherein the image signal selection means selects and

3 outputs the modified image signal from the image modification

4 processing means at a time of starting communication, and

5 thereafter selects and outputs the pickup image signal from

6 the pickup signal processing means in response to confirmation

7 of authentication of a partner side of a calling party.

1 17. (currently amended) A video telephone comprising:

2 image pickup means which captures an image of a subject

3 and generates a pickup signal;

4 pickup signal processing means which processes the pickup

5 signal and outputs a pickup image signal;

6 image modification processing means for executing a

7 program which subjects the pickup image signal to

Amendments to the Claims Page 6 of 1 2

Appl. No. 09/913,383
Amdt. Dated June 7, 2004
Reply to Office action of January 13, 2004

8

resolution reducing processing for reducing a
9 resolution of the pickup image signal;

10 image signal selection means which selects one of the

11 pickup image signal from the pickup signal

12 processing means and a modified image signal from

13 the image modification processing means; and

14 communication means which transmits an output image

15 signal from the image signal selection means.

1 18 . (previously presented) A video telephone according to

2 claim 17, wherein the image signal selection means selects and

3 outputs the modified image signal from the image modification

4 processing means at a time of starting communication, and

5 thereafter selects and outputs the pickup image signal from

6 the pickup signal processing means in response to an

7 operational instruction from a calling party.

1 19. (previously presented) A video telephone according to

2 claim 17, wherein the image signal selection means selects and

3 outputs the modified image signal from the image modification

4 processing means at a time of starting communication, and

5 thereafter selects and outputs the pickup image signal from

6 the pickup signal processing means in response to confirmation

7 of authentication of a partner side of a calling party.

1 20. (currently amended) A video telephone comprising:

2 image pickup means which captures an image of a subject

3 and generates a pickup signal;

4 pickup signal processing means which processes the pickup

5 signal and outputs a pickup image signal;

6 image modification processing means for executing a

7 program which subjects the pickup image signal to

8 tone resolution reducing processing for reducing a
tone resolution of the pickup image signal;

9

Amendments to the Claims

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Appl. No. 09/913,383
Amdt. Dated June 7, 2004
Reply to Office action of January 13, 2004

10 image signal selection means which selects one of the

11 pickup image signal from the pickup signal

12 processing means and a modified image signal from

13 the image modification processing means; and

14 communication means which transmits an output image

15 signal from the image signal selection means.

1 21. (previously presented) A video telephone according to

2 claim 20, wherein the image signal selection means selects and

3 outputs the modified image signal from the image modification

4 processing means at a time of starting communication, and

5 thereafter selects and outputs the pickup image signal from

6 the pickup signal processing means in response to an

7 operational instruction from a calling party.

1 22 . (previously presented) A video telephone according to

2 claim 20, wherein the image signal selection means selects and

3 outputs the modified image signal from the image modification

4 processing means at a time of starting communication, and

5 thereafter selects and outputs the pickup image signal from

6 the pickup signal processing means in response to confirmation

7 of authentication of a partner side of a calling party.

1 23. (previously presented) A video telephone according to

2 claim 1 wherein said image modification processing is

3 accomplished using a multi-purpose CPU or a digital signal

4 processor.

5 24 . (previously presented) A video telephone according to

6 claim 1 wherein said processing means is a digital signal

7 processor.

1 25. (previously presented) A video telephone according to

2 claim 1 wherein said processing means is a multi-purpose CPU.

Amendments to the Claims

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